TRANPAX
Have you seen the Libra tampon advert (handily embedded below)? The
clip shows two women applying makeup in the loos, one of whom
appears to be transgender. The pair then commence a battle of
titanic proportions, trying to outdo each other in the application
of cosmetics, a task in which trans lady, as you might expect,
excels. But non-trans lady has a secret weapon, a tampon, which she
smugly pulls out of her purse and hey presto: trans lady is
vanquished. The company's Facebook page was inundated with
complaints after the ad campaign, which aired on TV in Australia,
went viral. The Daily Mail has now picked up on the story.
Wow.
You have to feel a little sorry for Libra's marketing team. Like
so many makers of 'comedy' based upon the existence of trans
people, they probably thought they were being rather edgy and
sophisticated. It clearly never occurred to them that trans women
could be potential customers. Many transsexual women use feminine
hygiene products during the months following genital surgery. In
addition, trans men and non-binary trans people may also require
sanitary products - if not for their entire life, at least for a
significant period. (Ah, come on!)
Adding to the heavy gush of discontent, Gabeh Lissette Gutierrez
left her mark on Libra's Facebook wall: 'I'm not sure what is more
disgusting, the blatant transphobia or the inclination that a
period is what defines a woman's femininity.' Good point - and one
of many left by irked commenters. Libra tried to mop this flow of
ill-feeling with a prepared statement: "It was never intended to
upset or offend anyone. Independent research was undertaken and the
advertisement was viewed positively during that testing. Libra
takes all feedback very seriously, and in response to this, we will
immediately review our future position with this campaign based on
the feedback received.
'There are no further advertisements scheduled in New
Zealand.'
Isn't there a word missing from that, Libra?
Read the Daily Mail story
TWO GIRLS, ONE BABY
So, you have a baby. You provided the egg, got some sperm and then
your girlfriend grew the bambini and forced it out her foof.
Delightful, but what happens if you and wifey split up?
Well, as the Los Angeles Times reports, a case like this
recently resulted in both mothers being given parental rights. To
begin with, the birth mother argued that she was the child's legal
mum: "A circuit judge in Brevard County, writing that it broke his
heart to say so, ruled that she's right. Under Florida law, a woman
who gives birth is the mother. Late last month, however, a state
appeals court in Daytona Beach overturned his decision, saying the
other mother has parental rights too."
And the case has wider implications. Nancy Polikoff, a law
professor at American University Washington College of Law told the
Los Angeles Times: "Any ruling that supports the right of a
same-sex couple … is important for its willingness to recognize
that these families exist and a child raised in this environment
shouldn't be forced to give up a parent." I think it's great, and
one more step towards queer equality. A baby one.
Read the LA Times coverage
AGEING QUEERFULLY
Finally, cast your mind to the old gays of Spain, some of whom are
setting up the country's first queer-friendly home for the elderly.
And who can blame them? "In a country where many people over 40
grew up being taught that gay people were sick or criminals, the
atmosphere in some retirement homes is still crudely homophobic,"
explains the Guardian. The scheme's manager, Federico Armenteros,
says: "This will be a place that is open to everyone and where no
one will have to hide their sexuality." He also welcomes straight
people and trans folk too: ""What we want is a space of tolerance,
where anybody can come." Seems the only thing that's banned is
bigotry. In addition, the complex will house HIV positive residents
who are turned away from traditional care homes. Armenteros says
that older queers have had a difficult life in Spain: "We were
downtrodden in the Franco years and many people were arrested. It
took years for us to win our rights… We refuse to go back to that
atmosphere when we retire." Good for them.
Read the Guardian coverage
